Computer-implemented method and gaming apparatus for playing a card game

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method for playing a card game includes the steps of: allowing a player to place a first bet for a first outcome and an optional second bet for a second outcome; dealing player and dealer cards from a plurality of simulated playing cards; dealing another player card in response to a card request made by the player; dealing another dealer card if a total value of the dealer cards is less than a predetermined value; determining the first outcome based on a total value of the dealt player cards and a total value of the dealt dealer cards, and settling the first bet according to the first outcome; and if another dealer card was dealt, determining the second outcome based on whether the another dealer card conforms with a predetermined playing card criterion, and settling the second bet according to the second outcome.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 097107285, filed on Mar. 3, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gaming apparatus, more particularly to a computer-implemented method and gaming apparatus for playing a card game.

2. Description of the Related Art

According to conventional blackjack rules, aces can be either 1 or 11, tens and face cards count 10, and other cards count their respective face value. In each round of a blackjack game, a player places a bet and then a dealer deals a pair of player cards and a pair of dealer cards. The player goes first and plays the player cards by taking additional cards if desired by the player. If a total value associated with dealt player cards is higher than 21, which is called busting, the player loses this round. If a total value associated with the two dealer cards is less than 17, another dealer card is dealt. If the total value associated with dealt player cards is higher than the total value associated with the dealt dealer cards without busting, or if the total value associated with the dealt dealer cards busts, the player wins this round.

Blackjack is a popular card game, and players need careful deliberation to win blackjack games. However, the wager of blackjack is not diverse, and payouts for winning wagers are not much. Consequently, there is a need to provide a card game with various wagers to promote player excitement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer-implemented method and gaming apparatus for playing a card game with various wagers.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method for playing a card game. The computer-implemented method comprises the steps of:

-   -   a) providing a gaming apparatus that includes a user interface;     -   b) allowing a player to place a first bet for a first outcome         and an optional second bet for a second outcome via the user         interface;     -   c) dealing a pair of player cards and a pair of dealer cards         from a plurality of simulated playing cards, and showing the         dealt cards on the user interface;     -   d) dealing at least one other player card from the simulated         playing cards in response to a card request made by the player         through the user interface;     -   e) dealing another dealer card from the simulated playing cards         if a total value associated with the pair of dealer cards dealt         in step c) is less than a predetermined value;     -   f) determining the first outcome based on a total value         associated with the dealt player cards and a total value         associated with the dealt dealer cards, and with reference to         predetermined card game rules, settling the first bet placed by         the player in step b) according to the first outcome; and     -   g) if the player placed the second bet for the second outcome in         step b), and if another dealer card was dealt in step e),         determining the second outcome based on whether said another         dealer card dealt in step e) conforms with a predetermined         playing card criterion, and settling the second bet placed by         the player in step b) according to the second outcome.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program product for a gaming apparatus that includes a user interface and a processing unit coupled to the user interface. The computer program product is adapted to configure the processing unit to perform consecutive steps of a method for playing a card game, and comprises:

a machine readable storage medium comprising:

-   -   a first code that allows a player to place a first bet for a         first outcome and an optional second bet for a second outcome         via the user interface;     -   a second code for dealing an initial pair of player cards and an         initial pair of dealer cards from a plurality of simulated         playing cards, and for showing the dealt cards on the user         interface;     -   a third code for dealing at least one other player card from the         simulated playing cards in response to a card request made by         the player through the user interface;     -   a fourth code for dealing another dealer card from the simulated         playing cards if a total value associated with the initial pair         of dealt dealer cards is less than a predetermined value;     -   a fifth code for determining the first outcome based on a total         value associated with the dealt player cards and a total value         associated with the dealt dealer cards, and with reference to         predetermined card game rules, for settling the first bet placed         by the player according to the first outcome; and     -   a sixth code for, if the player placed the second bet for the         second outcome, and if said another dealer card was dealt,         determining the second outcome based on whether said another         dealt dealer card conforms with a predetermined playing card         criterion, and for settling the second bet placed by the player         according to the second outcome.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a gaming apparatus for playing a card game comprises:

a user interface; and

a processing unit coupled to said user interface and operable so as to

-   -   allow a player to place a first bet for a first outcome and an         optional second bet for a second outcome via said user         interface,     -   deal an initial pair of player cards and an initial pair of         dealer cards from a plurality of simulated playing cards, and         show the dealt cards on said user interface,     -   deal at least one other player card from the simulated playing         cards in response to a card request made by the player through         said user interface,     -   deal another dealer card from the simulated playing cards if a         total value associated with the initial pair of dealt dealer         cards is less than a predetermined value,     -   determine the first outcome based on a total value associated         with the dealt player cards and a total value associated with         the dealt dealer cards, and with reference to predetermined card         game rules, settle the first bet placed by the player according         to the first outcome, and     -   if the player placed the second bet for the second outcome, and         if said another dealer card was dealt, determine the second         outcome based on whether said another dealt dealer card conforms         with a predetermined playing card criterion, and settle the         second bet placed by the player according to the second outcome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the preferred embodiment of a plurality of gaming apparatuses according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart to illustrate the preferred embodiment of a computer-implemented method for playing a card game according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart to illustrate sub-steps of step 450 of the preferred embodiment of the computer-implemented method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of a gaming apparatus 3 according to the present invention is adapted for allowing a player to play a card game with reference to black jack rules. The gaming apparatus 3 includes a user interface, a processing unit 34, and a network connecting unit 33.

In this embodiment, the user interface includes a display unit 31 and an input unit 32. Preferably, the display unit 31 is, but is not limited to, a liquid crystal display used for showing a scene of the card game. However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the display unit 31 can also be a cathode ray tube monitor, a plasma display panel, etc. The scene of the card game displayed by the display unit 31 includes a betting interface and a plurality of simulated playing cards. The betting interface includes a plurality of simulated chips and a simulated card game layout. Moreover, the input unit 32 is, but is not limited to, a plurality of buttons operable so as to receive game-playing commands from the player. The input unit 32 can also be integrated with the display unit 31 as a touch screen, or any other player-operable mechanism. Preferably, the input unit 32 is operable to allow the player to place a first bet for a first outcome and an optional second bet for a second outcome.

The first outcome indicates that the player wins the first bet when a total value associated with dealt player cards is higher than a total value associated with dealt dealer cards without going over 21. The second outcome indicates that the player wins the second bet when another dealer card dealt from the simulated playing cards is a face card (i.e., J, Q and K), and indicates that the player loses the second bet when another dealer card is not a face card. Game processes and rules for playing the card game will be described in greater detail in the succeeding paragraphs.

In this embodiment, the network connecting unit 33 is a network interface card coupled to the processing unit 34 and operable to permit a plurality of the gaming apparatuses 3 to be operatively interconnected in a network. The processing unit 34 of one of the gaming apparatuses 3 in the network is configured to serve as a game server, and the processing unit 34 of each of other ones of the gaming apparatuses 3 in the network is configured to serve as a player terminal, such that a plurality of players can play in the card game simultaneously. It should be noted that the processing unit 34 can also conduct the card game without cooperation with the network connecting unit 33, and the player plays the card game alone via the gaming apparatus 3. Since the technique of network connection is well known, further details of the network connection will be omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

The processing unit 34 is electrically connected to and controls the operations of the display unit 31, the input unit 32 and the network connecting unit 33. In this embodiment, the processing unit 34 is a motherboard that is mounted in the gaming apparatus 3 and that includes a computer readable storage medium, such as a read-only memory device, recorded with program codes for performing the computer-implemented method of this invention. The processing unit 34 can also be a central processing unit (CPU), and executes the program codes resident in a storage medium in the form of a hard drive, a floppy disk, a compact disk, or a server computer that is accessible via the Internet. When it is needed to execute the program codes, the program codes are loaded in a random access memory (RAM) for enabling the CPU to perform the computer-implemented method.

The processing unit 34 executes the program codes for conducting the card game with reference to the blackjack rules, and the input unit 32 is operable to allow the player to enter the game-playing commands. The player can see the game progress and the outcome through the display unit 31.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the program codes in the storage medium control the game progress as follows:

First, in step 41, the player pushes a pre-defined button of the input unit 32 to join the card game conducted by the gaming apparatus 3. Although the network connecting unit 33 is operable to permit a plurality of the gaming apparatuses 3 to be operatively interconnected in a network, only one player plays the card game alone via only one gaming apparatus 3 in the following game progress for convenience of illustration.

In step 42, the display unit 31 shows a betting interface for allowing the player to place the first bet for the first outcome and the optional second bet for the second outcome via the input unit 32. The process of placing the first and second bets can performed by inserting coins or tokens, or by decreasing a credit total in a virtual account of the player. It is assumed that the player places both the first and second bets in this step. Alternatively, the player can also place the first or second bet only.

Then, in step 43, the processing unit 34 is operable so as to deal an initial pair of player cards and an initial pair of dealer cards from a deck of simulated playing cards, and show the dealt cards on the display unit 31. According to the blackjack rules, a face-down player card and a face-down dealer card are dealt, and then a face-up player card and a face-up dealer card are dealt.

In step 44, the player determines whether another player card is needed according to the initial pair of the player cards. When the player requires another player card by entering the game-playing command via the input unit 32, one more face-up player card is randomly dealt from the simulated playing cards in step 45. Consequently, a player value associated with the dealt player card is determined based upon the blackjack rules in step 46. If the player value is less than 21, the flow goes back to step 44. If the player value is over 21, which is called busting, the flow goes to step 460.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the player loses the first bet in step 460, and the card game is still proceeding for determining the second outcome. First, the initial pair of the dealer cards dealt in step 43 are disclosed in sub-step 461, i.e., the player can see values and suits of the dealt dealer cards via the display unit 31. Sub-step 462 is to determine whether a dealer value associated with the dealt dealer cards is less than a predetermined value (e.g., 17) based upon the blackjack rules. When the dealer value is not less than the predetermined value, there is no second outcome. Therefore, the second bet is returned to the player in sub-step 463 if the player placed the second bet for the second outcome in step 42, and then the card game ends in step 47. If the dealer value is less than the predetermined value, another dealer card is dealt in sub-step 464, followed by sub-step 465 to determine the second outcome. If the dealer card dealt in sub-step 464 conforms with a predetermined playing card criterion, i.e., the dealt dealer card is a face card, and if the player placed the second bet in step 42, the player wins the second bet and the processing unit 34 awards the player a winning in a form of coins, tokens or virtual credit according to the second bet and a predetermined multiple in sub-step 466. The flow then proceeds to step 47. If the dealer card dealt in sub-step 464 is not a face card, and if the player placed the second bet in step 42, the player loses the second bet and the gaming apparatus 3 takes away the second bet in sub-step 467. The flow then proceeds to step 47.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the player does not require another player card in step 44, the flow goes to step 48 to disclose the dealer cards dealt in step 43, i.e., the player can see values and suits of the dealt dealer cards via the display unit 31.

Step 49 is to determine whether the dealer value associated with the initial dealer cards dealt in step 43 is less than a predetermined value (e.g., 17). When the dealer value is not less than the predetermined value, there is no second outcome. Therefore, the second bet is returned to the player in step 50 if the player placed the second bet for the second outcome in step 42. Then, step 51 is to determine the first outcome. If the player value is higher than the dealer value without busting, the player wins the first bet and the gaming apparatus 3 awards a winning in a form of coins, tokens or virtual credit according to the first bet in step 52. The flow then proceeds to step 47. If the player value is not higher than the dealer value, the player loses the first bet and the gaming apparatus 3 takes away the first bet in step 53. The flow then proceeds to step 47.

In step 49, if the dealer value is less than the predetermined value, another dealer card is dealt in step 54, followed by step 55 to determine the second outcome. If the dealer card dealt in step 54 is a face card, the gaming apparatus 3 awards the player a winning in a form of coins, tokens or virtual credit according to the second bet and a predetermined multiple in step 56. It should be noted that if a plurality of players play the card game and some of the players lose the first bet, they still could stay in the card game for the second bet.

In order to enhance excitement of the card game, after step 56, step 57 is to determine whether the dealer value associated with the dealt dealer cards is over 21. When the dealer value is higher than 21, the gaming apparatus 3 awards the player a bonus in step 58, and the flow then goes to step 47. If the dealer value is not higher than 21, the flow goes to step 51.

In step 55, when the dealer card dealt in step 54 is not a face card, the second bet is taken away in step 59 if the player placed the second bet in step 42. The flow then goes to step 60 to determine whether the dealer value associated with the dealt dealer cards is over 21. The flow goes to step 52 if the dealer value is higher than 21, and goes to step 51 if the dealer value is not higher than 21.

Preferably, the game processes can further include a step after steps 56 and/or 59 to determine whether the dealer value associated with the dealt dealer cards is still less than the predetermined value. When the dealer value is still less than the predetermined value, the player can be allowed to place the second bet for the second outcome again, followed by step 54. If the dealer value is not less than the predetermined value, the flow goes to step 57 or 60 as described above.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A computer-implemented method for playing a card game, comprising the steps of: a) providing a gaming apparatus that includes a user interface; b) allowing a player to place a first bet for a first outcome and an optional second bet for a second outcome via the user interface; c) dealing a pair of player cards and a pair of dealer cards from a plurality of simulated playing cards, and showing the dealt cards on the user interface; d) dealing at least one other player card from the simulated playing cards in response to a card request made by the player through the user interface; e) dealing another dealer card from the simulated playing cards if a total value associated with the pair of dealer cards dealt in step c) is less than a predetermined value; f) determining the first outcome based on a total value associated with the dealt player cards and a total value associated with the dealt dealer cards, and with reference to predetermined card game rules, settling the first bet placed by the player in step b) according to the first outcome; and g) if the player placed the second bet for the second outcome in step b), and if another dealer card was dealt in step e), determining the second outcome based on whether said another dealer card dealt in step e) conforms with a predetermined playing card criterion, and settling the second bet placed by the player in step b) according to the second outcome.
 2. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step f), the predetermined card game rules are blackjack rules.
 3. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step g), the predetermined playing card criterion is a face card criterion.
 4. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step f), the first outcome indicates that the player has won the first bet when the total value associated with the dealt player cards is higher than the total value associated with the dealt dealer cards without going over
 21. 5. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step g), the second outcome indicates that the player has won the second bet when said another dealer card dealt in step e) is a face card, and indicates that the player has lost the second bet when said another dealer card dealt in step e) is not a face card.
 6. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step, between steps c) and f): h) returning the second bet placed by the player in step b) if the total value associated with the pair of dealer cards dealt in step c) is greater than the predetermined value.
 7. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step g) includes a sub-step of: awarding a bonus to the player if said another dealer card dealt in step e) conforms with the predetermined playing card criterion and if the total value associated with the dealt dealer cards is higher than a maximum limit defined in the predetermined card game rules.
 8. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the predetermined card game rules are blackjack rules, and the predetermined playing card criterion is a face card criterion.
 9. A gaming apparatus for playing a card game, comprising: a user interface; and a processing unit coupled to said user interface and operable so as to allow a player to place a first bet for a first outcome and an optional second bet for a second outcome via said user interface, deal an initial pair of player cards and an initial pair of dealer cards from a plurality of simulated playing cards, and show the dealt cards on said user interface, deal at least one other player card from the simulated playing cards in response to a card request made by the player through said user interface, deal another dealer card from the simulated playing cards if a total value associated with the initial pair of dealt dealer cards is less than a predetermined value, determine the first outcome based on a total value associated with the dealt player cards and a total value associated with the dealt dealer cards, and with reference to predetermined card game rules, settle the first bet placed by the player according to the first outcome, and if the player placed the second bet for the second outcome, and if said another dealer card was dealt, determine the second outcome based on whether said another dealt dealer card conforms with a predetermined playing card criterion, and settle the second bet placed by the player according to the second outcome.
 10. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the predetermined card game rules are blackjack rules.
 11. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the predetermined playing card criterion is a face card criterion.
 12. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first outcome indicates that the player has won the first bet when the total value associated with the dealt player cards is higher than the total value associated with the dealt dealer cards without going over
 21. 13. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second outcome indicates that the player has won the second bet when said another dealer card is a face card, and indicates that the player has lost the second bet when said another dealer card is not a face card.
 14. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said processing unit is further operable so as to return the second bet placed by the player if the total value associated with the initial pair of dealer cards is greater than the predetermined value.
 15. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said processing unit is further operable so as to award a bonus to the player if said another dealer card conforms with the predetermined playing card criterion and if the total value associated with the dealt dealer cards is higher than a maximum limit defined in the predetermined card game rules.
 16. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the predetermined card game rules are blackjack rules, and the predetermined playing card criterion is a face card criterion.
 17. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a network connecting unit coupled to said processing unit and operable to permit a plurality of said gaming apparatuses to be operatively interconnected in a network, wherein said processing unit of one of said gaming apparatuses in the network is configured to serve as a game server, and said processing unit of each of other ones of said gaming apparatuses in the network is configured to serve as a player terminal.
 18. A computer program product for a gaming apparatus that includes a user interface and a processing unit coupled to said user interface, said computer program product being adapted to configure the processing unit to perform consecutive steps of a method for playing a card game, and comprising: a machine readable storage medium comprising: a first code that allows a player to place a first bet for a first outcome and an optional second bet for a second outcome via the user interface; a second code for dealing an initial pair of player cards and an initial pair of dealer cards from a plurality of simulated playing cards, and for showing the dealt cards on the user interface; a third code for dealing at least one other player card from the simulated playing cards in response to a card request made by the player through the user interface; a fourth code for dealing another dealer card from the simulated playing cards if a total value associated with the initial pair of dealt dealer cards is less than a predetermined value; a fifth code for determining the first outcome based on a total value associated with the dealt player cards and a total value associated with the dealt dealer cards, and with reference to predetermined card game rules, for settling the first bet placed by the player according to the first outcome; and a sixth code for, if the player placed the second bet for the second outcome, and if said another dealer card was dealt, determining the second outcome based on whether said another dealt dealer card conforms with a predetermined playing card criterion, and for settling the second bet placed by the player according to the second outcome.
 19. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the predetermined card game rules are blackjack rules.
 20. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the predetermined playing card criterion is a face card criterion.
 21. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first outcome indicates that the player has won the first bet when the total value associated with the dealt player cards is higher than the total value associated with the dealt dealer cards without going over
 21. 22. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second outcome indicates that the player has won the second bet when said another dealer card is a face card, and indicates that the player has lost the second bet when said another dealer card is not a face card.
 23. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein said machine readable storage medium further comprises a seventh code for returning the second bet placed by the player if the total value associated with the initial pair of dealer cards is greater than the predetermined value.
 24. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein said sixth code further awards a bonus to the player if said another dealer card conforms with the predetermined playing card criterion and if the total value associated with the dealt dealer cards is higher than a maximum limit defined in the predetermined card game rules.
 25. The computer program product as claimed in claim 24, wherein the predetermined card game rules are blackjack rules, and the predetermined playing card criterion is a face card criterion. 